Explore every episode of the podcast Excellence Unlocked

What does it really take to build a world-class factory floor? Mike Allen is a 25-year supply chain veteran who's led operations across Kellogg, a family-owned giant, and Haleon (Panadol, Advil, Sensodyne). Drawing on his time navigating South Africa's distinct operational pace and three separate attempts to establish Kellogg's continuous improvement program, Mike offers his insights on organisational culture, change fatigue, and why tools alone rarely produce lasting results. 

He outlines his six core leadership fundamentals, discusses the value of structured observation as a development practice, and reflects on the question he believes every supply chain leader should be asking: where is our greatest vulnerability? It’s a thoughtful conversation on humility, capability building, and sustainable leadership in modern manufacturing. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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The greatest untapped asset in most organisations isn’t technology, strategy or even talent – it’s the ideas people never share. Ishan highlights Ferrari's transition to electric vehicles as a subtle leadership challenge: inviting celebrated external designers may broaden perspectives, but it can also unintentionally tell employees that the next breakthrough won't come from them. 

The result is a workforce full of knowledge and experience that never reaches the people making decisions. Innovation slows, engagement declines, and opportunities are missed. 

High-performing organisations understand that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating an environment where people feel safe to question, contribute and improve. Every organisation has the potential to unlock far more of its collective intelligence—it simply needs leaders who know how to invite it. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

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Excellence rarely breaks down because of a bad idea. More often, it stalls because the wrong people were left out of the conversation. Every project, every initiative and every attempt to improve performance depends on stakeholder engagement, whether that’s the people affected by the change or the individuals with the authority to accelerate it, delay it or quietly kill it altogether. 

One of the best examples comes from Disney in the early 1990s. At the height of its animation comeback, one project had all the confidence, attention and internal momentum. The other was viewed as the weaker bet. But over time, through deliberate stakeholder engagement, that perception shifted. Leadership became more involved, belief grew, momentum changed direction and the so-called secondary project became one of the biggest animated films ever made. Can you guess which one? Listen in to find out! 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

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Your team's supposed "weaknesses" are not necessarily all that they seem. With a dash of creativity, they could be leveraged into secret weapons of success. Ishan Galapathy highlights a 3M creation that failed in its original application, but became a highly successful product in its own right. In the film, The Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum embraces society's outcasts to create showbiz magic.

The message? Fostering an environment where team members feel safe to fail and share ideas can drive creativity and drive. Sometimes, the quirkiest ideas and “failures” pave the way to the most dazzling successes.

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Before “starting with why", the framework popularised by Simon Sinek, Ishan Galapathy suggests start identifying and engaging the key stakeholders, who will drive and be affected by the changes. Involve individuals from all levels of the organisation, including those who might be resistant or disengaged, to gain diverse perspectives and foster buy-in.

Ishan shares a tale from the trenches, where a booming doughnut business hit a sticky situation in their packing area. Enter Brian, the casual worker with a casual approach to change, who was unknowingly the key ingredient they were missing. Spoiler: involving Brian turns the project from a flop to fantastic!

There's a parallel with Disney's "The Lion King", a film that almost didn't make it past the storyboard, but was transformed by addressing the right "who" before the "why."

You can turn potential obstacles into allies by understanding the reasons behind resistance to change and address them through open communication and inclusion. To ensure all members feel valued and heard, it's worth tailoring your leadership to fit the unique dynamics of the team and project.

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With a background as an industrial engineer, Kari Banick has extensive experience in transforming supply chain operations through automation and data-driven strategies. Today, she is the Chief Operating Officer of Blackwoods, an industrial safety company within the Wesfarmers group.

Kari discusses the evolutionary shift from manual to automated processes in supply chain operations is a key trend, with automation seen as a critical differentiator for businesses. She shares the importance of resilience, detailed planning, and engaging employees in the transition to automation. She notes the increasing role of data and systems in driving efficiency and the need for problem-solving skills in new job roles. Kari also touches on global trends in technology adoption, comparing the US and Australian markets. Effective leadership, she says, involves being present on the floor and involving employees in designing and implementing process changes.

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Where do our best ideas come from? The environment can have a lot to do with it. Ishan Galapathy explores how some of our greatest insights often emerge in calm, pressure-free settings like showers, walks in nature, or while reading. Ishan shares a personal anecdote when a seemingly minor observation from a night shift operator led to solving a significant machinery issue.

Creating a work culture where employees feel safe and unjudged is crucial for fostering creativity and innovation. Allowing employees the freedom to act on their ideas without needing prior authorisation can drive significant improvements and innovations. And so, effective leadership involves demonstrating empathy, engaging in tough conversations, and being open to learning from failures to create an environment conducive to innovation.

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While technological advancements have driven productivity and reduced costs, they have also led to undervaluing human potential. In the pursuit of technological transitions, it's important to involve and value employees – after all, Ishan Galapathy says, technology should enhance human capability, not replace it.

Involving employees in technological advancements and projects can unlock hidden potential and make them feel valued, leading to better outcomes and job satisfaction. Technology, he says, should support fundamental business processes and not be seen as a quick fix. Proper implementation and understanding are crucial for success.

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Dr. Peter Campbell, an expert in unlocking excellence, shares insights on lean manufacturing, automation, and the challenges of implementing operational excellence. He discusses the impact of Japanese lean in a German Bosch company, the importance of understanding the 'why' in automation, and the trends in Australian manufacturing. Peter also highlights the difficulty of starting and embedding improvement programs and the key factors for successful change.

He discusses the challenges of applying manufacturing principles to the service industry and the importance of productivity in sustaining Australian manufacturing. Peter also introduces his consulting business, Cinc. Consulting, and shares his vision for the future.

Cinc. Performance Consulting 
https://www.cincperformance.com/

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Building on previous episodes, Ishan Galapathy highlights the importance of engaging fence-sitters, those employees who have been quiet or disengaged, but hold valuable insights and potential. Actively involving frontline workers in identifying and solving problems can unlock hidden capacities within the business. Their firsthand experience and insights are crucial for identifying and addressing issues. Listening to employees and acting on their feedback can transform a business. It not only solves immediate problems but also builds a culture of continuous improvement and trust, leading to long-term success.

ISHAN'S BOOK 'ADVANCE':
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/advance/ 

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Host Ishan Galapathy explores the importance of unlocking excellence and leveraging good soldiers in solving initiatives that people are passionate about. It’s importance, he says, to involve fence sitters, who make up a significant portion of the workforce, in projects to gain traction and deliver real results.

Addressing manufacturing constraints is vital to improve sales and overall business performance. Ishan discusses the process of involving operators to identify issues and frustrations, and the significance of operator buy-in. Importantly, don't underestimate the leadership potential and ideas of fence sitters.

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Ishan’s book ‘ADVANCE: 12 essential elements to supercharge productivity and profitability’ 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/advance/

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Craig Funnell shares his four decades of experience in supply chain management over four decades, from electrical engineer to supply chain leader across the Asia-Pacific. His proudest achievement was establishing Johnson & Johnson's operations in China from scratch in the early 1990s. Despite language barriers and a lack of local knowledge, Craig relied heavily on his team’s local expertise, leading to the development of a world-class facility.

Craig discusses with host Ishan Galapathy the importance of leveraging technology and engaging the workforce to achieve productivity gains and maintain competitive advantage. He contrasts productivity improvements with simple cost-cutting, highlighting that the former involves optimising processes and increasing efficiency, rather than merely reducing expenses. Craig also emphasises the need for safety and quality as foundational priorities in any operation.

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Some people in your organisation may have particular talents that aren’t reflected in their CV or called upon in the job description. But those talents could be precisely what’s needed in your team, to build momentum.

Host Ishan Galapathy says that by coaching team members to leverage their secondary skills creatively, organisations can tap into additional resources and energy. Ishan draws inspiration from examples like Queen guitarist Brian May whose astrophysics background arguably influenced his creation and mastery of music.

Ishan suggests encouraging team members to embrace their full identity and potential in order to foster a culture of excellence driving productivity and engagement.

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The biggest problem in most workplaces is not that waste is hidden, but that people gradually stop noticing it. Processes become familiar, inefficiencies become normalised, and teams become so focused on frameworks, categories and terminology that they lose sight of what continuous improvement was originally designed to achieve. 

The debate over whether Lean contains seven wastes or eight completely misses the point of what Taiichi Ohno built inside the Toyota Production System. The goal was never memorisation. The goal was learning how to observe what adds value and what quietly drains it away. 

From Ohno’s famous “chalk circle” exercise to modern research into inattentional blindness explored in The Invisible Gorilla, the lesson remains remarkably relevant today. Waste often hides in plain sight through rework, excess activity and unnecessary delay, slowly reducing performance across almost every organisation. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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All of us have the power inside ourselves to do and create extraordinary things. Ishan Galapathy stresses the importance of believing in and supporting those dedicated individuals who are driving positive change within organisations. By trusting in their capabilities and fostering a supportive environment, insists Ishan, organisations can unlock excellence and achieve their goals.

Ishan recounts a personal experience with a supervisor named Andy, who demonstrated remarkable dedication and capability. Through mentoring and coaching, Andy was able to excel in his role and contribute significantly to the organisation's success.

Another example Ishan shares is Jeff, a leader who effectively guided his team through an improvement initiative by fostering open communication and inclusivity. Through Jeff's leadership, the team was able to unlock significant capacity without the need for additional resources.

And, drawing from the lessons of renowned executive coach Bill Campbell, Ishan highlights three key principles for effective coaching and leadership: leading with the heart, amplifying ideas through inclusive decision-making, and fostering trust within the team.

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The numbers of people who are disengaged at in any one organisation is staggering. How do identify who they are in your own workforce, and how do turn things around so that they contributing to their fullest? Ishan Galapathy explores the concept of engagement in the workplace and the potential hidden within employees who may appear disengaged.

Ishan identifies the significant portion of the workforce categorized as "quiet quitters" – individuals who have silently disengaged from their work.

He paints a vivid picture of how these dynamics affect organisational productivity, using the analogy of rowing a boat with a team of individuals, some rowing hard, others adding dead weight, and some actively rowing against progress.

Ishan shares a hiking trip anecdote to illustrate the importance of starting small to build momentum and achieve success.

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If you're immersed in the world of manufacturing or supply chain management, you've likely encountered the elusive concept of excellence. But what does it truly mean? Is it a destination or a journey? And how do we navigate the path to unlock excellence within ourselves and our organisations?

With more than 25 years’ experience in manufacturing across the Asia Pacific region, Ishan Galapathy delves into the heart of excellence, shifting the focus from tools and technology to the true drivers of success: our people.

Ishan shares insights and techniques honed from years of working with teams and leaders, helping them unleash their hidden potential and achieve remarkable results. Whether it's uncovering hidden capacity or fostering a culture of continuous improvement, he explores practical strategies for unlocking excellence in your workplace.

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In this special 100th episode the spotlight is on Ishan Galapathy himself. From engineering student in Sydney to global operational excellence leader, consultant, author and speaker, Ishan’s story is built around one central idea: businesses already have more potential than they realise. The challenge is learning how to unlock it. 

Ishan shares the career and life transitions that shaped his thinking, from manufacturing roles at Arnott’s and Kellogg to building his own consulting practice. His work now helps companies simplify productivity, engage frontline teams and solve the problems that matter most. 

At the heart of his approach is a belief that leaders do not need more tools, templates or shiny technology. They need to involve their people properly, especially the quiet “fence sitters” who often hold the answers. This is a personal, practical and revealing look at the person behind the ideas. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Redundancies are rising, but something more fundamental is being cut. Continuous improvement teams, once relied on to drive efficiency and long-term performance, are being removed under short-term financial pressure. It can feel decisive, even necessary, yet it risks weakening the very engine that helps a business improve.

The thinking behind these decisions is often flawed, confusing cost cutting with cost reduction, dismissing recovery as failure, and mistaking chaos for unreadiness. Add siloed thinking around operations and a rush to move too fast, and the illusion of control quickly replaces real progress. The outcome is a smaller business, not a stronger one, and the loss only becomes clear when the gains stop.

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit:
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:
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A quiet Sri Lankan kitchen reveals a powerful lesson in leadership. Three simple tasks uncover what many organisations still miss. Cut a pineapple and you learn the discipline of using resources wisely, not wasteful, not careless, just right. Build a fire and you discover that real progress starts small, with preparation, not grand plans. 

Cook a delicate coconut curry and you confront the truth about execution, where success depends on constant attention. These are not cooking lessons. They are the foundations of operational excellence. Thrift, planning, execution. Long before strategy frameworks, people understood this. The question is whether we still do today. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Sustainable operational excellence is built through clarity, consistency and patient investment in people. Tools matter, but results only stick when leaders communicate clearly, build capability and reinforce the right behaviours over time. 

Ishan speaks with Troy May, a senior manufacturing leader whose career spans Goodman Fielder, Arnott’s and now Lion. Drawing on three decades of frontline and leadership experience, Troy reflects on the lessons that shaped his approach to servant leadership, accountability and continuous improvement. He shares practical insights on leading change in complex manufacturing environments, engaging teams at every level, and balancing long term cultural change with the pressure to deliver results. It is a thoughtful conversation grounded in real operational experience. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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We assume tools will save us. They won’t. Not unless people can actually use them when it matters. Modern organisations are overloaded with frameworks, dashboards and methodologies, all introduced with good intent. 

But when pressure hits, complexity collapses. People don’t reach for manuals or toolkits. They fall back on what is simple, familiar and practised. What isn’t embedded becomes noise. What isn’t rehearsed becomes useless. 

The uncomfortable truth is that many tools quietly turn into organisational baggage, adding weight without adding value. This reframes operational excellence entirely. It is not about how many tools exist, but whether teams can execute instinctively under pressure. Because when it counts, clarity beats complexity, and capability always outperforms theory. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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When something goes wrong at work, the first question is often who caused it. It feels fast, decisive and accountable, but it rarely leads to real improvement. Blame creates closure, not clarity. The problem appears solved, yet the same issue quietly returns. 

A more effective approach shifts the focus away from individuals and towards the system itself. What allowed this to happen? What conditions made the error possible? That change in thinking transforms everything. Teams become more open, problems surface earlier and learning accelerates. This is where operational excellence actually begins. Not by fixing people, but by improving the environment they operate in. Get the system right, and performance follows naturally. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Lasting operational excellence is built through trust, clarity and the disciplined use of human potential. Sustainable transformation does not come from tighter control, but from creating environments where people feel respected, heard and empowered to contribute. 

Ishan speaks with Parakrama “Para” Ekanayake, Distribution Centre Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in Sydney. Para reflects on a career spanning Sri Lanka, Jordan, Bangladesh and Australia, leading large-scale manufacturing, transformation and distribution operations across complex, multicultural environments. He shares the pivotal experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, why strong teams outperform hierarchy, and how leaders can unlock performance by building trust, encouraging accountability, setting boundaries and creating cultures where continuous improvement becomes part of everyday work. 

Connect with Para on LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/para-ekanayake/ 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:
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workplaces start the day with a quick huddle. A few questions, a few updates, then everyone moves on. It feels productive, but often it’s little more than a casual chat. What’s missing is structure. Without clear metrics, visual dashboards and disciplined meeting routines, those daily gatherings rarely move the needle on performance. 

The truth is many businesses, including large multinational companies, still operate this way, so if your meetings feel loose and unstructured, you’re not alone. But turning a huddle into a powerful operational tool requires three things. First, standardised KPIs that everyone agrees to measure the same way. Second, simple visual dashboards that show instantly whether the team is winning or losing. And third, a disciplined meeting structure that keeps the conversation focused, accountable and useful. 

Harvard Business Review article on the Hawthorne Effect: https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/hawthorne/09.html 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit:
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More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:
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The biggest moments of success are rarely won in the spotlight. They’re earned long before anyone is watching. Using NASA’s Artemis program as a powerful case study, Ishan reveals why excellence isn’t built by heroic last-minute efforts, but through disciplined preparation, rigorous thinking and systems designed to withstand failure. 

From testing assumptions to confronting uncomfortable realities, the lessons behind deep space exploration have striking parallels for every business. Why do great organisations obsess over what could go wrong? Why does reality always beat the plan? And why do reliable systems outperform individual brilliance? If you want to build an organisation where success is repeatable rather than accidental, this episode offers a compelling blueprint for unlocking excellence before the pressure is on. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:  
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Transformation sounds exciting in the boardroom – new strategy, sharper governance, higher standards, tighter cadence – but step out of the PowerPoint deck and into the engine room, and you’ll find a different story. 

Middle managers sit at the intersection of strategy and execution, reporting upward, translating vision, and stabilising teams amid rising scrutiny. However, it’s not about whether your transformation plan is strong. It’s whether you have equipped the people in the middle to stand steady when the heat rises. Ishan unpacks what they’re really experiencing… and how to help them lead through it. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Leadership in supply chain is ultimately about creating agility, sustaining improvement, and making courageous decisions that protect long-term performance – and personal priorities. Ishan is joined by Cedric Lemetta, former Chief Operating Officer of L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand, to explore what operational excellence looks like at scale. 

Cedric shares the realities of managing a highly complex, import-led supply chain across Australia and New Zealand, including multi-site distribution, channel diversity, and long lead times. Drawing on senior roles with Unilever and Johnson & Johnson, he discusses technology adoption, change management, and the people dynamics that determine whether transformation succeeds. The conversation also covers work-life boundaries, Australia’s unique logistics challenges, and practical leadership lessons for emerging and experienced supply chain professionals. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Growth is exciting, but exhausting. We celebrate the rising revenue, the expanding customer base, the new opportunities opening up. But behind the scenes, growth also stretches capacity, tests systems, and drains energy. It exposes the cracks. It multiplies complexity. And if we’re not careful, it can strain the very engine that got us here. 

Over the past few weeks, Ishan has been reflecting on what really happens during transition phases — when momentum is high but structures are still catching up. His younger son recently started university. New environment, new freedom, new expectations. Whether you’re stepping onto a campus or scaling a business, similar rules of growth apply. 

Growth isn’t just about doing more. It’s about building the capability to handle more. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:
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In Spain, there is a centuries-old tradition in which teams build towering human pyramids – sometimes up to ten levels high – through extraordinary trust, coordination, and collective discipline. It’s a powerful analogy for business excellence. No one climbs unless the base is solid. No one moves without rhythm. And no one improvises at level nine. 

Yet in business, we often launch bold strategies with vague ambition and expect people to “figure it out.” Ishan shares a simple three-part formula to build a vision that actually sticks: a sharp, emotional tagline, a compelling image that energises, and zero wiggle room across the organisation. 

Because excellence isn’t built with enthusiasm alone. It’s built with clarity. Stabilise the base, and only then can your tower truly rise. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Great leaders don’t just deliver results. They leave fingerprints on the people they lift along the way. And today’s guest has done exactly that across nearly three decades inside one of Australia’s most iconic companies. From safety coordinator to Chief Supply Chain Officer at Arnott’s, Tim Morgan’s career is a masterclass in growing by serving others, connecting deeply, and leading with intent. 

He’s guided teams through turnarounds, transformations, and global assignments, all while shaping some of the most loved brands in our pantry – Tim Tam, Shapes, Salada and more. Tim joins Ishan to unpack the leadership habits, human moments and hard-won lessons behind a remarkable 28-year journey. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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A strange noise in a car that vanishes at the mechanic becomes the spark for a powerful business lesson: listening matters. Ishan explores what we can learn from mechanics who hear problems before they break, pilots who inspect aircraft for subtle warning signs, and leaders who tune into their organisations. 

There are three critical ways to listen to a business: to your assets, your people, and your operating rhythm. From daily equipment checks and frontline feedback to weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews, listening creates early warnings instead of costly failures. 

Drawing on Oscar Trimboli’s work and the Chinese character Ting, we learn that listening is a full-spectrum skill – rooted in respect, presence, observation, focus, and empathy. Listen better, and performance follows. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

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One of the biggest myths in modern operations is that performance problems can be fixed with better tools. Dashboards, automation and system upgrades promise clarity, but often amplify the very capability gaps holding organisations back. 

Drawing on insights from guests on previous episodes of Excellence Unlocked, Ishan builds on the summer series to explore why thinking capability must come before complexity. 

You’ll hear from three highly experienced operational excellence leaders. Manu Liyanarachchi, former ANZ Operational Excellence Lead at Coca-Cola, who explains why strong fundamentals and analogue thinking matter more than digital dashboards. Dean Patton, a veteran of Pfizer, Baxter and now Goodman Fielder, challenges the idea that tools and certificates equal capability. Alodia Bourke, a senior supply chain leader with experience across FMCG in Australia and New Zealand, highlights why teams mature at different speeds and why leaders must respect that journey. 

Tools are multipliers. When thinking is strong, they accelerate performance. When it isn’t, they create noise. The real breakthrough always starts with people, not technology. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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After five intense weeks in Sri Lanka filled with family, friends, and nonstop catch-ups, Ishan is recording this episode in Thailand – off schedule and completely off script! This part of the journey was meant to slow things down. Instead, the last three days turned into a masterclass in disruption. You know the feeling — when you need a holiday to recover from the holiday. Add packed expectations, tight timelines, and food poisoning that took turns sidelining family members. Definitely not the plan. 

But this is where clarity appears. When carefully laid plans unravel, priorities sharpen. And what unfolded over these few days reveals two practical lessons about focus, adaptability, and what it really takes to unlock excellence in business. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

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When organisations want to lift performance, they usually reach for new tools, new systems, new dashboards. But here’s the truth: tools don’t change culture — people do. Excellence has never been a technology problem. It’s always been a people game. 

Over the past couple of years of Excellence Unlocked, one theme has come through loud and clear: when people are involved early, listened to deeply, and trusted to lead change, performance follows. 

You’ll hear from three highly experienced supply chain leaders: Alodia Burke, a respected Australian executive now leading operations in New Zealand, who explains why involving people early creates true ownership of change; Kari Banick, COO of Blackwoods, who shares the power of “go and see” leadership and designing change with teams on the floor; and Dean Patton, a veteran of Pfizer, Baxter, and Goodman Fielder, who reinforces how listening to operators unlocks performance. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

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In this special summer edition of Excellence Unlocked, Ishan brings some of the best insights from past guests – starting with a critical lesson for manufacturers, warehouses, and supply chain leaders everywhere. Yes, automation can reduce labour costs. Yes, it can drive efficiency. But done badly? It can make performance worse, faster. 

You’ll hear from three highly experienced supply chain leaders: Peter Campbell, a former EY consultant and PhD-qualified practitioner who shares hard-won lessons from automating at Bosch; Kari Banick, COO of Blackwoods, who explains why disciplined design and “going slow to go fast” are critical to automation success; and Dean Patton, a senior leader from Baxter, Pfizer, and Goodman Fielder, who reinforces the principle of discipline before digital. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

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Paul Mason is a mechatronics engineer, computer scientist and CEO of Robotics Australia Group, the peak body for Australia’s robotics and automation sector. He also co-hosts the Manufacturing Tech Australia podcast and has spent more than two decades helping businesses improve manufacturing, design, commercialisation and technology adoption. 

Paul explains why many businesses misunderstand robotics, from assuming it is unaffordable to treating it as a silver bullet for productivity. He and Ishan explore Australia’s low robot density, the importance of independent advice, and why broken processes should be fixed before technology is added. They also cover cobots, humanoid robots, AI, vibe coding, future skills, leadership, and why communication, problem-solving and people-first thinking matter more than ever. 

Paul Mason 
http://www.paulmason.au/ 

Manufacturing Tech Australia Podcast 
https://www.manufacturingtech.au/ 

Robotics Australia Group 
https://www.roboausnet.com.au/ 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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As the clock ticks down to midnight, Ishan looks ahead to the fresh start that 1 January brings and the goals we so often set with the best intentions Lasting progress comes not from ambition alone, but from the systems, habits, and processes built into everyday life and work. Whether the goal is improved health, stronger finances, or better business performance, success follows the structure that supports it.

As we welcome a new year, the invitation is to design systems that make progress inevitable, and we hope 2026 is a great year for you!

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit:
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:
https://ishangalapathy.com/

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When is there a better time than on Christmas Eve to reflect on the power of celebration? In the rush to deliver projects, transformations, and results, it’s easy to move straight on to the next challenge without pausing to reflect. Ishan explores why stopping to recognise progress, acknowledge achievements, and celebrate with your teams is essential to unlocking sustained excellence. From daily recognition to milestone celebrations, positivity and progress are contagious. As we reflect on the year that was, we wish you and your teams a joyous festive season and a well-earned moment to celebrate.

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit:
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:
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True efficiency isn’t about adding more bells and whistles; it’s about ditching the clutter that’s slowing you down. The big idea is simple: when your workspace and processes aren’t a scavenger hunt, everything runs smoother. Enter the 5S approach—sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain—a tidy little recipe for turning chaos into calm. Clear out what’s useless, keep what matters close, and suddenly productivity feels less like a battle. The real magic comes from subtraction: remove the noise, lighten the load, and watch clarity, speed and performance step into the spotlight. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit:
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:
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Continuous improvement didn’t appear out of nowhere; it evolved over more than a century of problem-solving and innovation. The story begins in the early 1900s with Henry Ford, who reshaped manufacturing through the moving assembly line, standardised work and the relentless removal of waste. 

After World War II, Toyota expanded on these ideas and created the Toyota Production System, refining waste reduction, improving flow and building a culture where everyone contributes to better ways of working. Then in 1988, an MIT researcher captured this entire philosophy in one word: lean. 

Today, Ishan cuts through complexity to uncover the simple, powerful essence of continuous improvement and what it really takes to unlock excellence in any business. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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A casual fruit-picking weekend proves that powerful lessons in business excellence often come from the simplest places. Today, Ishan turns that moment into three principles that drive meaningful improvement: seeing familiar processes with fresh eyes, pursuing opportunities others overlook, and applying simple tools with greater depth across the organisation. 

Through real operational examples, Ishan shows how small adjustments in speed, flow or daily routines can generate significant gains, and why lasting results only emerge when everyone moves in the same direction. It’s a reminder that value often hides in plain sight. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Standards on paper mean little when teams model what they see, not what they’re told. Many organisations remain stuck in “third gear,” weighed down by disengagement, reactive leadership and KPIs (key performance indicators) that only surface issues after the fact. Ishan unpacks how KAIs (key activity indicators), those consistent daily huddles and visible involvement, form the behavioural backbone of high performance. He shows how to align actions with expectations, engage fence-sitters, and build a culture where progress is deliberate, momentum grows, and excellence becomes the everyday standard. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Australia’s premier celebration of supply chain and logistics excellence – ASCLA Awards – delivered one of its most memorable nights yet. Hosted at Melbourne’s grand Town Hall with more than 500 guests, the evening blended breathtaking performance, heartfelt cultural acknowledgment, and well-earned industry recognition. 

Ishan shares an immersive, behind-the-scenes recount of the event, from the awe-inspiring pipe organ and live string quartet to the powerful stories of emerging future leaders. Beyond the spectacle, the night highlighted something deeper: the importance of gratitude, community, and pausing to celebrate the people who drive continuous improvement across the sector. It’s a reminder that recognising milestones – individual and collective – is essential to unlocking excellence in any organisation. 

ASCLA Awards 
https://www.ascla.com.au/awards/ 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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During peak hour, traffic lights on highway on-ramps allow just a few cars through at a time. It seems like a delay, but it’s a clever way to maintain steady flow and prevent gridlock. Businesses work much the same way. When too much work enters the system at once, it overwhelms capacity and slows everything down. 

By introducing smart “on-ramp controls” — simple pauses, prioritisation, and visual cues — leaders can create rhythm, consistency, and safety across their operations. The result is a smoother, more predictable flow of work that unlocks capacity and drives sustainable excellence. 

Transport Victoria’s “Studies of coordinated ramp signal benefits” 
https://transport.vic.gov.au/road-and-active-transport/business/road-and-traffic-management/smart-technology-on-freeways/studies-of-coordinated-ramp-signals-benefits 

Ishan refers to a five-year study conducted by Transport Victoria on the impact of ramp lights introduced on Melbourne’s M1 (Monash–CityLink–West Gate) motorway. 

That study measured the changes before and after the ramp metering system was installed, showing: 

• a 56% increase in traffic flow, 
• 33% of that attributed to adding an extra lane, and 
• the remaining 23% credited to ramp metering. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
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More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Small experiences often reveal powerful lessons about improvement and perspective. In business, progress rarely comes from one grand move but from recognising when to act quickly and when to think long term. Balancing short-term fixes with strategic shifts is what separates teams that continually improve from those that stall. Real excellence lies in understanding which problems to tackle now and which to build for later — and creating systems that make both happen seamlessly. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
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More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Have you ever been driving on a familiar road when suddenly the way ahead is blocked — roadworks, flashing lights, detours everywhere? You know this route, you’ve taken it dozens of times, but now you’re forced to stop, re-route, and find another way forward. 

In that moment, it’s easy to feel frustrated, even second-guess your decisions. But isn’t that what happens in business, too? We follow the same familiar paths, confident they’ll take us where we need to go, until the landscape changes. That’s when we discover whether we’re truly navigating with awareness… or just driving on autopilot. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
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More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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The biggest breakthroughs rarely come from working harder. They come from removing what no longer serves a purpose. Drawing on Qantas’ remarkable Project Sunrise and the legendary Double Sunrise flights of World War II, Ishan reveals why sustainable excellence is built through simplification, smart design and empowering people, not relentless effort. 

Organisations achieve extraordinary results when they eliminate unnecessary complexity, design around constraints instead of fighting them, and involve the people closest to the work in creating better systems. Whether leading a team, running a business or improving a process, the path to exceptional performance is surprisingly simple. Lighten the load, embrace reality and build solutions with your people, not just for them. Excellence is rarely about doing more. It is about carrying less and designing better. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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We often race toward the next goal, chasing the next KPI, project, or deadline – so fast, we rarely pause to ask: what did we just accomplish, and who helped make it happen? In the noise of day-to-day operations, progress becomes invisible. Wins blur into routine. Morale dips. Excellence suffers. But what if we made recognition a rhythm? 

What if we could embed celebration into the fabric of how we work – hourly, daily, monthly, quarterly? This isn’t about balloons and bonuses. It’s about helping people see they’re making a difference, feel momentum, and stay engaged. 

Ishan unpacks how businesses can create simple rituals to make progress visible – through scorecards, symbols, storytelling, and shared milestones. Because when you celebrate movement, you create motivation. 

And that’s how you unlock excellence! 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
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Every successful business eventually hits a ceiling — that moment when the systems, habits, and thinking that once drove growth start holding it back. Some leaders of large, thriving companies have realised exactly that. They’re not failing — far from it — but they know instinctively that what got them here won’t get them there. 

Unlocking excellence isn’t about working harder or doing more. It’s about thinking differently — moving from firefighting to flow, from reacting to creating stability. Just like progressing from primary school to high school, the fundamentals remain, but the maturity deepens. 

Ishan shares the three essential shifts that help leaders move beyond success to sustained, scalable excellence. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/

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